In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
In four quarters were the porters - i:e., the principal porters, with their assistants.
Toward the east, х mizraach (H4217)] - from the rising of the sun. х yaamaah (H3220), seaward - i:e., west, as looking to the Mediterranean; tsaapownaah (H6828), north, because the ancients regarded the north as dark or unknown; and negbaah (H5045), south, the region south of Palestine being an arid, parched desert.] These words, expressing the cardinal points of the compass, were, among the Hebrews, derived from the characteristic features of their own land, or from the prevalent impressions of the people of the direction spoken of.